The quick answer is; both the best you can afford, PLUS a highly experienced sound engineer. There isn't a cheap quick one-size-fits-all answer to this.
I'd go with the old tried and true standbys, SM 57(Shure Mic) for instruments, and SM 58 for vocals. They're tough as nails, and last forever if you take good care with them. They require XLR cable and do not need phantom power. Prices vary widely depending on whether you buy new or used. New goes around $80 to $170 USD; used--check for bargains on ebay and online music merchants. I've had my SM57s 25 years and they work just as fine as the day I bought them. Hope this helps.
It's going to depend on a lot of things - not least your budget, but also things like how you perform - if you all sit in a row you will probably want stand mics, if you leap about the stage you will need instrument mounted close mics.
Before you spend any money I would suggest you visit your local library or Amazon, and read:
'Ultimate Live Sound Operators Handbook' by Bill Gibson
IN our Ceilidh Band, we solved the problem by having each musician buy his/hers own mike and XLR cable. Most of us have mikes on the instrument (AKGs for the boxes, mostly Schchtler and Beyer dyn for the fiddles). So we boutght a 16 track mixer, and everyone has his track... if one of us forgets his mike or cable, bad luck for him... but we're 15 in our Ceilidh Band...!
We get a good sound with this system, not too electric !
Thre shure mics are great, but be careful buying from ebay as there have been some cheap forgeries about. You are probably going to pay about £95 for an SM57 or 58, better to buy from a reputed dealer.
I use a mic occasionally and I have an SM57 which is OK but doesn't have a lot of gain. I thought I'd try something else and got a Rode M3 which is a condenser mic (has a 9v battery in it). This was to use on mandolin or fiddle without lashing out on an expensive pickup. Quite honestly, this works really well for my limited purposes and I don't think I need anything else: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000UXIEPU/ref=oss_product
Don't be deceived by the description "Pencil Condenser Microphone" - this is a heavy well-built item. It's also relatively cheap.
As fiddlerdan said, the SM57 and 58 are durable, reliable workhorses. Given a choice, I wouldn’t use them for a sit-down concert, but they should be adequate for a ceilidh. More important than the mikes is having an experienced sound technician who knows how to balance the mix. Remember, the guy doing the mixing is, in fact, part of the band. He can’t make you sound better than you really are, but he certainly can make you sound worse.
I and most of the people I play with have gig bags full of assorted equipment we can pull out because sound really is situational. How many people you are playing with, the type of rooms you are playing in, the type of crowds you are playing for, ie, noisy or listening.
If I was going to do it all over again and was just starting out I would find an expert who was very experienced to advise me and my mates on exactly what we needed. I would go and listen to other groups like mine and when I found one that sounded great I would ask them or their soundman if they had one, for a consult. Knowing what I know now, I would be willing to pay them a generous fee because good advice could save you so much money in the long run in terms of buying less gear but more importantly, good advise could save you your reputations and help ensure your future gig getting income.
The thing is, you do need to know the basics for yourself. It is your sound and you need to have an understanding of how it works when it is being reproduced. A good soundman can save you but a bad one can slaughter you and you don't always have control over who you are working with.
Regardless, even if you are working with a great soundman you need to know a bit about how it all works. A little about how to use dynamic vs condensor mics, pickups vs close micing. You need to know a little about the pickup pattern of the mics you'll be working with so you know the best placing for them. An inch or two farther away from a mic like an sm57 can make an incredible difference in your sound. You need to understand a little about gain settings too so you can avoid feedback problems. Again, I would advise a consult with someone experienced and knowledgeable.
I'm not experienced micing ceili groups, but I have a bit of experience micing choirs. Given that you said "stage" and the plural "microphones," I'm wondering if you are talking about ambient mics to pick up the whole group. If you want a balanced sound of the whole without focusing on individual instument mics, that's a thought. The only issues to be concerned with are the "booms and clicks." Condenser stage mics sound wonderful, but they can also pick up unintended things. Anyway, getting a pair of small diaphragm condensers, or more if the group is large, and use them as overhead mics may do the trick, and it won't require a sophisticated sound mix to get the balance of instruments right. However, if you go that route, these mics require their own independent voltage, called phantom power, to operate. Many mixer board have that option built in, but if you're talking about a very cheap or old system, it may not have that, which means you may have to purchase a separate phantom power box. Then, there are models that provide their own phantom power.
If there is any kind of monitoring, this option cannot be done. All speakers must be pointing away from the microphoned area, or you will get feedback. But if it's an acoustic ceili band, and you're just trying to get a bit of amplification to cover the room, then monitoring, and the feedback, probably won't be an issue.
Excellent advice one and all. As many of the respondents have said, speaking with a knowledgeable sound reinforcement person is essential from knowing what your needs are to knowing what to buy and why (what size is the performance venue? Is it just to amplify a session, or a concert? What is your budget? Would you be wanting to invest in a complete sound system, or just buy microphones? etc...)
Here are two links to reputable online/brick and mortar companies, the first of which I purchased my sound equipment from: http://www.fullcompass.com/ http://www.musiciansfriend.com/
I don't know how their prices compare, but I do know they offer volume discounts (buy all the mics for your band at one time and negotiate a nice discount!) AND you can talk to your heart's content to knowledgeable salesperson who can recommend various brands based on your band's specific needs. (There are also unpublished clearance/blowout/discontinued specials on brand new equipment that you could stumble onto as well and save big $$--just ask.) The salespeople know the equipment and the sound systems they sell and can give good (free) general advice on specific sound reinforcement questions.
I would say, whatever else your requirements, it breaks down into session, concert, or gig styles.
If you're just amplifying a session,that's one thing, putting over a concert in a large auditorium is another, playing a loud gig in a crowded hall is different again.
Stage microphone for ceili band?
Stage microphone for ceili band?
Anyone have a recommendation for stage microphones for a ceili band? Anyone know what they use at the fleadh? Thanks.
Bothy1932
# Posted on April 19th 2010 by bothy1932
Re: Stage microphone for ceili band?
The quick answer is; both the best you can afford, PLUS a highly experienced sound engineer. There isn't a cheap quick one-size-fits-all answer to this.
# Posted on April 19th 2010 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Stage microphone for ceili band?
I'd go with the old tried and true standbys, SM 57(Shure Mic) for instruments, and SM 58 for vocals. They're tough as nails, and last forever if you take good care with them. They require XLR cable and do not need phantom power. Prices vary widely depending on whether you buy new or used. New goes around $80 to $170 USD; used--check for bargains on ebay and online music merchants. I've had my SM57s 25 years and they work just as fine as the day I bought them. Hope this helps.
# Posted on April 19th 2010 by fiddlerdan
Re: Stage microphone for ceili band?
It's going to depend on a lot of things - not least your budget, but also things like how you perform - if you all sit in a row you will probably want stand mics, if you leap about the stage you will need instrument mounted close mics.
Before you spend any money I would suggest you visit your local library or Amazon, and read:
'Ultimate Live Sound Operators Handbook' by Bill Gibson
'Live Sound Reinforcement' by Scott Hunter Stark
and 'Basic Microphones' by Paul White
# Posted on April 19th 2010 by skreech
Re: Stage microphone for ceili band?
IN our Ceilidh Band, we solved the problem by having each musician buy his/hers own mike and XLR cable. Most of us have mikes on the instrument (AKGs for the boxes, mostly Schchtler and Beyer dyn for the fiddles). So we boutght a 16 track mixer, and everyone has his track... if one of us forgets his mike or cable, bad luck for him... but we're 15 in our Ceilidh Band...!
We get a good sound with this system, not too electric !
# Posted on April 19th 2010 by Nikita Pfister
Re: Stage microphone for ceili band?
Thre shure mics are great, but be careful buying from ebay as there have been some cheap forgeries about. You are probably going to pay about £95 for an SM57 or 58, better to buy from a reputed dealer.
# Posted on April 19th 2010 by bodatcha
Re: Stage microphone for ceili band?
I use a mic occasionally and I have an SM57 which is OK but doesn't have a lot of gain. I thought I'd try something else and got a Rode M3 which is a condenser mic (has a 9v battery in it). This was to use on mandolin or fiddle without lashing out on an expensive pickup. Quite honestly, this works really well for my limited purposes and I don't think I need anything else: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000UXIEPU/ref=oss_product
Don't be deceived by the description "Pencil Condenser Microphone" - this is a heavy well-built item. It's also relatively cheap.
# Posted on April 19th 2010 by RichardB
Re: Stage microphone for ceili band?
As fiddlerdan said, the SM57 and 58 are durable, reliable workhorses. Given a choice, I wouldn’t use them for a sit-down concert, but they should be adequate for a ceilidh. More important than the mikes is having an experienced sound technician who knows how to balance the mix. Remember, the guy doing the mixing is, in fact, part of the band. He can’t make you sound better than you really are, but he certainly can make you sound worse.
# Posted on April 19th 2010 by Bob himself
Re: Stage microphone for ceili band?
I and most of the people I play with have gig bags full of assorted equipment we can pull out because sound really is situational. How many people you are playing with, the type of rooms you are playing in, the type of crowds you are playing for, ie, noisy or listening.
If I was going to do it all over again and was just starting out I would find an expert who was very experienced to advise me and my mates on exactly what we needed. I would go and listen to other groups like mine and when I found one that sounded great I would ask them or their soundman if they had one, for a consult. Knowing what I know now, I would be willing to pay them a generous fee because good advice could save you so much money in the long run in terms of buying less gear but more importantly, good advise could save you your reputations and help ensure your future gig getting income.
The thing is, you do need to know the basics for yourself. It is your sound and you need to have an understanding of how it works when it is being reproduced. A good soundman can save you but a bad one can slaughter you and you don't always have control over who you are working with.
Regardless, even if you are working with a great soundman you need to know a bit about how it all works. A little about how to use dynamic vs condensor mics, pickups vs close micing. You need to know a little about the pickup pattern of the mics you'll be working with so you know the best placing for them. An inch or two farther away from a mic like an sm57 can make an incredible difference in your sound. You need to understand a little about gain settings too so you can avoid feedback problems. Again, I would advise a consult with someone experienced and knowledgeable.
# Posted on April 19th 2010 by Twisty
Re: Stage microphone for ceili band?
I'm not experienced micing ceili groups, but I have a bit of experience micing choirs. Given that you said "stage" and the plural "microphones," I'm wondering if you are talking about ambient mics to pick up the whole group. If you want a balanced sound of the whole without focusing on individual instument mics, that's a thought. The only issues to be concerned with are the "booms and clicks." Condenser stage mics sound wonderful, but they can also pick up unintended things. Anyway, getting a pair of small diaphragm condensers, or more if the group is large, and use them as overhead mics may do the trick, and it won't require a sophisticated sound mix to get the balance of instruments right. However, if you go that route, these mics require their own independent voltage, called phantom power, to operate. Many mixer board have that option built in, but if you're talking about a very cheap or old system, it may not have that, which means you may have to purchase a separate phantom power box. Then, there are models that provide their own phantom power.
If there is any kind of monitoring, this option cannot be done. All speakers must be pointing away from the microphoned area, or you will get feedback. But if it's an acoustic ceili band, and you're just trying to get a bit of amplification to cover the room, then monitoring, and the feedback, probably won't be an issue.
# Posted on April 19th 2010 by Jimmy B
Re: Stage microphone for ceili band?
Oh, and they don't have to be expensive. There are plenty of inexpensive models on the market that would do the trick. MXL mics come to mind.
# Posted on April 19th 2010 by Jimmy B
Re: Stage microphone for ceili band?
Excellent advice one and all. As many of the respondents have said, speaking with a knowledgeable sound reinforcement person is essential from knowing what your needs are to knowing what to buy and why (what size is the performance venue? Is it just to amplify a session, or a concert? What is your budget? Would you be wanting to invest in a complete sound system, or just buy microphones? etc...)
Here are two links to reputable online/brick and mortar companies, the first of which I purchased my sound equipment from:
http://www.fullcompass.com/
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/
I don't know how their prices compare, but I do know they offer volume discounts (buy all the mics for your band at one time and negotiate a nice discount!) AND you can talk to your heart's content to knowledgeable salesperson who can recommend various brands based on your band's specific needs. (There are also unpublished clearance/blowout/discontinued specials on brand new equipment that you could stumble onto as well and save big $$--just ask.) The salespeople know the equipment and the sound systems they sell and can give good (free) general advice on specific sound reinforcement questions.
# Posted on April 20th 2010 by fiddlerdan
Re: Stage microphone for ceili band?
I would say, whatever else your requirements, it breaks down into session, concert, or gig styles.
If you're just amplifying a session,that's one thing, putting over a concert in a large auditorium is another, playing a loud gig in a crowded hall is different again.
# Posted on April 20th 2010 by Guernsey Pete